Lucy D’Orsi: Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police Service

The UK’s Policing lead for Protective Security, namely Metropolitan Police Service Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi, has called upon private companies and the commercial sector to buy-in to a ‘Protect Duty’ and work with the police service and its myriad partners in order to help to keep members of the public safe.

Addressing policing and Government officials from around the world at an event held in central London, DAC D’Orsi stressed the overriding importance of the commercial sector starting to factor protective security measures into event planning and new infrastructure projects at the earliest possible stage.

“Methodologies designed to protect our cities from the increasing terrorist threat are constantly evolving to ensure that we’re prepared to effectively respond to and recover from attacks,” urged D’Orsi. “We in policing will rightly lead on this vital work, but there’s always a limit in terms of what we can do. I believe that our colleagues in the private sector also have an important part to play.”

DAC D’Orsi made the comments while co-chairing a ‘Safer Cities’ round table discussion alongside representatives from the Home Office, using the event as a platform to appeal to companies to make protective security absolutely key to their future events planning and building management.

“Terrorists are using low sophistication, high impact methodologies which are often planned and executed in a short time frame, in turn minimising our ability to disrupt attacks before they occur. Protective security is therefore a key strand of our activity to reduce the impact of attacks. The private sector has become a more willing partner in recent years. Together, we have developed communications packages and partnered with business under the ‘Step Change’ initiative, but in order to do more to protect the public we need to deliver a more fundamental shift of approach.”

DAC D’Orsi continued: “The police service has a duty to protect the public from terrorist threats, but many responsible private sector entities are already asking how they, too, can contribute. By sharing this ‘duty’ more widely, we’ll be in a position to increase its reach, scope and efficacy even further.”

Police support for the private sector

Senior officers working for Counter-Terrorism Policing are developing plans such that policing can better support the private sector in contributing to the UK’s collective ‘Protective Security’ measures. This work includes developing accredited private sector security advisory services and creating bespoke products and communications networks for specific sectors, such as entertainment venues or commercial buildings.

Specialist officers could also support testing and exercises across the country to ensure a national standard of security training for private sector workers, as well as develop protocols and systems which would allow for the police service and Government to recover the costs of the use of national assets to protect private events.

DAC D’Orsi added: “Private companies looking to host public events or begin new infrastructure projects must meet stringent targets to ensure they have valid fire safety certificates, and I see no reason why we cannot do the same for ‘Protective Security’ measures. Similarly, commercial entities such as football clubs must contribute to the policing operations which protect their sites and their customers. Surely it’s only right they do the same when using national protective security resources? I know from speaking to private sector representatives that the majority of private companies are ready to work alongside the police to make the UK a safer place, and I believe we now have the blueprints to make that a reality by making our public spaces as hostile as possible for those looking to do us harm.”

About the Author

Brian Sims BA (Hons) Hon FSyI, Editor, Risk UK (Pro-Activ Publications)
Beginning his career in professional journalism at The Builder Group in March 1992, Brian was appointed Editor of Security Management Today in November 2000 having spent eight years in engineering journalism across two titles: Building Services Journal and Light & Lighting.
In 2005, Brian received the BSIA Chairman’s Award for Promoting The Security Industry and, a year later, the Skills for Security Special Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Security Business Sector.
In 2008, Brian was The Security Institute’s nomination for the Association of Security Consultants’ highly prestigious Imbert Prize and, in 2013, was a nominated finalist for the Institute's George van Schalkwyk Award.
An Honorary Fellow of The Security Institute, Brian serves as a Judge for the BSIA’s Security Personnel of the Year Awards and the Securitas Good Customer Award.
Between 2008 and 2014, Brian pioneered the use of digital media across the security sector, including webinars and Audio Shows. Brian’s actively involved in 50-plus security groups on LinkedIn and hosts the popular Risk UK Twitter site.
Brian is a frequent speaker on the conference circuit. He has organised and chaired conference programmes for both IFSEC International and ASIS International and has been published in the national media.
Brian was appointed Editor of Risk UK at Pro-Activ Publications in July 2014.

Contact Sales:

Archive Search

All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Content on this website, including materials available for download, are supplied solely for the private use of visitors to this site, and must not be redistributed by third party sites, or as part of any marketing or promotional material, without permission in writing from the publisher.While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of material included in Risk UK (both the hardcopy publications and this website), the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein, or any consequence arising from it.